/// @file
/// @brief Task2: Abstract base class used as interface to implement serialization of XML elements

#pragma once

#include <string> // std::string

namespace task2 {

///@brief XML element interface
struct Element {

  virtual std::string open() const = 0;  ///< returns the opening or self-closing tag of an XML element
  virtual std::string text() const = 0;  ///< returns the content tag of an XML element
  virtual std::string close() const = 0; ///< returns the closing tag of an XML element

  virtual ~Element() = default; ///< enable deletion of derived object instances via a base pointer

protected:                                      ///< only accessible form within a derived class
  Element() = default;                          ///< default constructor
  Element(const Element&) = default;            ///< copy constructor
  Element& operator=(const Element&) = default; ///< copy assignment
};

} // namespace task2